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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reorganized leadership of its Coeur d’Alene Stake during a conference Sunday, installing Ryan S. Johnson, 51, as the new stake president. Johnson, who owns International Minute Press CDA and works as an adjunct lecturer for the University of Arizona, replaces Tyler Morton, who served nine years in the position. Mark H. Snow, 52, a dentist at Riverstone Dental Care, was called as first counselor, and Thomas J. Pearson, 51, owner of Twin Lakes Farm and Ranch, was named second counselor.
A stake president serves as the lay leader for a geographic area similar to a Catholic diocese, overseeing church programs and assisting approximately 3,300 members across eight congregations in the Coeur d’Alene area. Stake presidents typically serve about nine years and work with two counselors and a 15-member stake council.
A U.S. District Court has dismissed a lawsuit by former Idaho state senator Chris Trakel, who claimed the Idaho Department of Education violated his family’s religious freedoms by denying reimbursement for a Bible-based curriculum. Trakel sued after his children’s public charter school, Idaho Home Learning Academy, rejected the religious materials, citing the state’s Blaine Amendment, which bars public funds for religious education. Judge Lynn Winmill ruled the school’s curriculum decisions do not infringe on personal religious rights. Trakel, a far-right legislator aligned with the Idaho Freedom Caucus, has drawn controversy for his stances on education, LGBTQ+ rights and school policy debates. More reporting on this story can be found on the Idaho Statesman.
In its first year, HearMeWA — a free, 24/7, trauma-informed hotline for Washington youth (ages 0–25) — supported 161 individuals across 20 counties. Offering services in multiple languages and accessible formats, the hotline addressed issues like bullying, depression, anxiety, abuse and suicide ideation. Amid national funding cuts, HearMeWA has become a vital, youth-centered resource, adopted by many schools as a primary anonymous reporting tool.
The program integrates youth voices through a 25-member Youth Advisory Group aged 13 to 24 from 17 Washington counties. These youth represent a variety of demographics, including LGBTQIA2S+, rural, urban, low-income, Black, Indigenous, and youth of color, experience in foster care, immigrants, houseless/unsheltered youth and neurodivergent youth.
A federal court has again upheld Idaho’s law (SB 1100) requiring transgender students to use restrooms and facilities that align with their biological sex. In Sexuality and Gender Alliance v. Critchfield, the court denied a request for a narrow injunction applying only to Boise High School, where transgender students had previously used facilities matching their gender identity. The judge ruled the law is substantially related to Idaho’s interest in protecting student privacy and that plaintiffs are unlikely to succeed on Equal Protection or Title IX claims.
Whitworth Associate Professor of Sociology Robert Francis has been named a 2025–2026 Visiting Scholar by the Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP), the nation’s leading poverty research center. One of only four scholars selected nationwide, Francis will spend a week at the West Coast Poverty Center at the University of Washington to share and refine his research. His work focuses on U.S. poverty, housing, the working class and rural communities. A respected researcher and educator, Francis has earned multiple honors and contributes actively to national sociological associations.
Spokane Youth For Christ (YFC) will host a Back to School Block Party and Free Resource Fair on Monday, Aug. 18, from 3–6 p.m. at the Hillyard YFC in Northeast Spokane, 4603 N. Market St. Open to all K–12 students and families, the event offers free food, haircuts, school supplies and backpacks. Held at the City Life Center, it reflects YFC’s mission to create a Christ-centered, supportive space for youth. More information can be found on YFC’s website.
The City of Spokane is seeking public input on climate-related issues, including water use, through a Climate Policy Survey open until Aug. 31. Results will inform the city’s Comprehensive Plan. Available in six languages, the survey helps shape climate action. Public meetings are also open for community input. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete and can be found online.
Some summaries created with help of AI. Staff still carefully edited material for content quality and publication standards.
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